Abstract: Though identical in appearance the Evercool Transformer 4 HPJ-12025 (2010 ed.) heatsink is actually a revised and updated version of the Transformer 4 HPJ-12025 cooler Frostytech tested in 2009. Chief among the differences is an up to date mounting bracket that accommodates the full range of Intel processors (socket 775/1155/1156/1366) in addition to the full gamut of AMD chips.

Though
identical in appearance the Evercool Transformer 4 HPJ-12025 (2010 ed.) heatsink
is actually a revised and updated version of the Transformer 4 HPJ-12025 cooler Frostytech tested in 2009.

Chief among the differences is
an up to date mounting bracket that accommodates the full range of Intel
processors (socket 775/1155/1156/1366) in addition to the full gamut of
AMD chips (socket 754/939/940/AM2/AM3). The 2nd revision HPJ-12025 heatsink
Frostytech is testing today has been fitted with faster fans that operate
at 2200-1000RPM and are now PWM compliant - the fans on the previous
heatsink ran at a fixed 1000RPM. Keep in mind that Intel Core i5
processor compatibility and fan speeds are the only way to tell the two
heatsink revisions apart, Evercool
has not updated the model number.

The overall depth of the
Transformer 4 HPJ-12025 (2010 ed.) is 136mm, compared to 121mm for the former
unit - the difference mainly being due to the fan clips,
but altering plenum spacing nonetheless. Where the heatsink tower is
concerned the Transformer 4 HPJ-12025 (2010 ed.) has several additional rows of
aluminum fins. The fin stack on the Transformer 4 HPJ-12025 (2010 ed.)
heatsink is 112mm high while the older model is 98mm high.

As
you'll shortly see, these subtle revisions have made the
dual-fan, Evercool Transformer 4 HPJ-12025 (2010 ed.)
heatsink into a very effective, if somewhat audible, tower heatsink.

In most other respects the Evercool Transformer 4 HPJ-12025 (2010 ed.)
is a pretty straightforward heatsink. It's built around four 8mm
diameter copper heatpipes that are exposed at the base, weighs
upwards of 844 grams and retails for approximately $40.

Exposed heatpipes are a pretty common feature
on modern heatsinks, in part because the technique is simple and in part
because it cuts material costs. We like it because it
can reduce thermal resistance by doing away with intermediary
heatspreaders and bad, but unseen soldering jobs.

The challenge with exposed heatpipe
heatsinks is to properly swage the heatpipes into the base cap of the
heatsink, then keep them level with one another over many heating/cooling
cycles. Sometimes they stay level, sometimes they don't... Provided these
two crucial requirements are met and the heatpipe's internal wick structure
isn't damaged during the manufacturing process, exposed heatpipes can be an
excellent tool for improving heatsink efficiency.

The Evercool Transformer 4 HPJ-12025 (2010 ed.) heatsink
features four 8mm diameter copper heatpipes which are exposed at the base. A
small 2mm strip of aluminum separates the heatpipes from one another.

Heatsink Installation Hardware

Evercool's Transformer 4 HPJ-12025 (2010 ed.) heatsink ships with mounting brackets for Intel LGA775/1155/1156/1366 and AMD 754/939/940/AM2/AM3 processors. A pair of rear motherboard support plates are supplied to mount the 844 gram heatsink, along with a combination of brass stand-offs and thumbscrews. You will need access to the rear of the motherboard to install this heatsink.

The heatsink is held in place with a universal bracket
that slips in between the heatpipes and engages with a keyed recess in the
heatsinks' aluminum base cap.

The two 120mm fans are held in place on the
heatsink body with wire clips that are screwed onto the fan frame. These are
easily removable if you wish to swap out fans in the future. A 4-pin Y-splitter fan
power cable is supplied so both PWM fans can be run off one single PWM
motherboard fan header. A small syringe of thermal compound is also provided.

FrostyTech's Test Methodologies are outlined in detail
here if you care to know what equipment is used, and the parameters under
which the tests are conducted. Now let's move forward and take a closer look at
this heatsink, its acoustic characteristics, and of course its performance in
the thermal tests!